Organic specialty drinks

Over recent years there has been a steady increase in the availability of specialty drinks containing organically certified ingredients. For the sake of descriptive accuracy, specialty drinks can be categorised according to their distinctive properties and their targeted market.

The first group are the manufactured drinks associated with therapeutic health benefits. The primary consumers of therapeutic drinks are health conscious individuals between thirty and fifty five years of age. When interviewed, the majority of consumers claim to select these products based on a combination of current scientific evidence, the recommendation of health professionals, and advertising claims. The most popular products are those containing antioxidant compounds and vitamins.

The next category includes electrolyte replacement and sports drinks. These are primarily aimed at the youthfully active, between fifteen and thirty years. Many of these products are marketed through elite and developing athlete sponsorship deals and the promotion of selected sporting events.

Recreational and caffeinated energy drinks constitute a third category. With the exception of some leading brands, these products tend to be narrowly profiled toward particular socio-cultural groups within the fifteen to forty year age bracket. For example, one product we investigated was exclusively restricted to hotels and nightclubs despite being a non-alcoholic beverage. A separate trio of high caffeine energy drinks was launched at a conference attended by recent law graduates.

The fourth category to be discussed here encompasses the juice drinks and cordials which are formulated to appeal to children between one and ten years of age. Many of these are associated with popular media, animated cartoon, and computer games imagery.

Health promotion

Organic drinks offering therapeutic health benefits are now widely available in whole food stores, supermarkets, gymnasiums, and health retreats. In many respects, their popularity is determined by the overall quality and acceptance of the wider range of manufactured products known as functional foods. This category emerged from Japan in the late eighties and was originally defined to identify processed foods which contain ingredients to enhance or protect specific bodily functions.

The current definition of functional food appears to have widened to include natural substances with the potential for widely distributed physiological benefits. Examples of these include products containing probiotics, green tea and olive leaf extracts, acai berries, and various herbal compounds like ginko, liquorice, and sarsparilla.

Drinks containing green tea extracts and acai berries have been promoted for their antioxidant properties and complex polyphenols which are believed to neutralise oxidated molecules which can progressively damage living tissue. Organic certification provides an assurance that these products contain ingredients derived from uncontaminated sources, with an emphasis upon maintaining the integrity of their natural therapeutic properties.

Sports drinks

The organically certified sports drinks are primarily designed for athletes and active individuals who need to replace fluids, glucose, and electrolytes, during, and after strenuous periods of exercise.

Consultant sports physiologist Kerrie Burt recommends drinking at least two glasses of plain water prior to exercising. “Drinks containing glucose and electrolyte will actually restrict the effective absorption of water during this time. They are more effective at delivering the mixture of fluids, glucose, and electrolyte required once the body is heated and actively engaged in physical activity. We now talk about cells in terms of their fluid storage capacity”, advises Ms Burt. “We’re looking for good supplies of intracellular fluid before an event. Once core temperature rises, the fluid gets released from the cells to enable evaporative cooling across the skin. At the same time muscles and organs have an increased demand for energy as well as the soluble minerals which regulate their increased metabolic functioning”.

She believes that sports drinks are more important than most people realise. “There have been some sarcastic comments about the sports drink industry, but you only hear praise from the coaches and athletes”, says Ms Burt. The science is very advanced and the organically certified products are right on the cutting edge.

Energy drinks

Organic energy drinks are a relatively new concept. Until recently most of these products were based on the conventional formula of carbonated water, sugar, caffeine, various flavourings and preservative. With the increased competition among established and emerging products, several manufacturers have focused on healthier organic products. These are often based on sophisticated yet natural juice flavours like cranberry, guarana, and lychee. They typically contain less added sugar and caffeine than regular energy drinks, although they may contain herbal supplements like ginko which is known to improve memory and concentration. The emerging markets for these products include China, and much of South East Asia.

Drinks for children

While addressing health concerns of parents and caregivers, organic products designed for children must also accommodate taste preferences which may not necessarily apply to adults. This is particularly true of the processed fruit juices and cordials which are often sweetened with sugar and other natural food additives.

When asked for their comments, individuals purchasing these products were somewhat ambivalent on the issue of sugar content. While there was widespread acknowledgement that excessive dietary sugar leads to problems with obesity and dental decay, there was also a belief that healthy kids tend to restrict their own sugar intake, providing they have access to a well balanced diet most of the time.

The adults interviewed were more concerned about the possibility of pesticide and other chemical compounds entering the food chain and affecting their child’s development. Children are more susceptible to a wide range of chemical pollutants and toxins due to the immaturity of their excretory organs and immune systems. Because they contain fruit concentrates sourced from local and overseas suppliers, many conventional juice products contain residual traces of organophosphate and carbamate compounds.

Organic juices and cordials are made from fruit which is raised naturally, without chemical interference. When you find organic varieties the kids enjoy, make use of them as a special treat in preference to conventional varieties. However, make sure your children are also drinking plenty of water and milk, preferably certified organic milk.